Outboard motor steering control



I May 14, 1968 AUMACK 3,382,837

OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING CONTROL Filed Nov. 7, 1966 United States Patent 3,382,837 OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING CQNTR-OL Franklin L. Aumaclr, 626 W. Knox Ave, Spokane, Wash. 99205 Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,630 2 Claims. (Cl. 115=-18) My invention relates generally to a device to maintain an outboard motor boat on a previously determined course and more particularly to such a device that adjustably mechanically determines the positional relationship between outboard motor steering rod and a boat carrying such motor.

The common outboard motor is releasably and pivotably mounted on the stern of a small boat and has a steering handle projecting forwardly into the area of the boat. A boat carrying such a motor is steering by pivotably moving the steering handle to pivot the motor relative to the boat to change the boat course. Some friction force is associated with the pivotable movement of such motor, but this .force cannot be too great for ordinary operation and if after positioning the motor be thereafter left unattended, it may quite readily, because of random external forces, change its pivotable position relative the boat.

In the case of a fisherman or other outboard boat operator that may be otherwise involved than with the motor on occasion, there arises a steerage problem. If the motor is left unattended, it may follow a quite random course and deviate materially from the course it was following prior to inattention.

With these thoughts in mind the instant invention was conceived to aid in maintaining an outboard motor boat on a predetermined course while the motor is unattended. In so doing it is:

A principal object of my invention to provide novel adjustable detachable mechanical linkage communicating between a boat and outboard motor steering handle to releasably establish such handle in a predetermined position relative said boat.

A further object of my invention to provide a device of the nature aforesaid that is readily adaptable to use with most boats and outboard motors of existing commerce.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a device that is adjustable to provide for various types and operations of the structures involved.

A still further object of my invention to provide a device of the nature aforesaid that is of simple and rugged construct-ion, of economic and durable nature, of new and novel design and none that is otherwise well adapted to the uses for which it is intended.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible of change in design, ordering and structural arrangement of parts, with only one preferred practical embodiment being illustrated, as required.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of my invention in place on the stern of an outboard motor boat and communicating with the motor steering handle.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of my invention proper, the structure being tilted approximately 45 degrees toward the plane of projection, showing the various parts of my invention, their configuration and relationship.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken on the line 33 thereon, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an orthographic view of the dog communicating between motor handle and positioning plate.

FIGURE 5 is a view of the same structure illustrated in FIGURE 4 rotated ninety degrees about its vertical axis from that projection.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail and particularly to that of FIGURE 1, there will be seen an ordinary outboard motor boat 10 with substantially planar stern 11 and outboard motor 12 mounted in a pivotable fashion on stern 11 by plural mounting brackets 13 attached thereto by fastening screws 14 threadedly carried thereby. My invention comprises a body 15, carried between stern 11 and fastening screws 14, adjustably carrying positioning member 16 adapted to releasably communicate with positioning dog 17 carried by motor steering handle 18.

Body member 15 comprises the flat elongate fastening plate I? pivotably communicating with essentially perpendicular hollow mounting arm 20. Preferably these members are formed of metal and joined by welding to provide a structure of sufficient structural rigidity. A threaded hole 21 is provided near the outwardmost projection of the mounting arm to threadedly receive set screw 22.

Inner mounting arm 23 is an elongate member of such configuration as to slideably fit within the central chamber of hollow mounting arm 20 and is adjustably positioned relative thereto by tightening set screw 22 there against. The inner mounting arm in its outwardmost extension pivotably carries positioning member 16.

This positioning member is a flat planar element, with arcuate outer edge, pivotably communicating with mounting arm 23 by bolt 24 extending through washer 25 in the medial rearward portion of positioning plate 26 to threadedly engage inner positioning arm 23. Slightly further outward is an arcuate channel described with the center of bolt 24 as a radius to allow pivotal motion of the member about bolt 24 as a pivot point. Positioning plate setting bolt 27 extends through washer 28 and arcuate channel 29 to threaded engagement with inner mounting arm 23, so that this setting bolt may be tightened to adjustably positioning plate 26, angularly, relative inner mounting arm 23.

Positioning plate 26 has an arcute outwardmost projecting rim 30 described by a radius extending from communication of hollow mounting arm 2%} and mounting plate 19, or even a radius slightly greater. This outward rim is provided with plural spaced radially extending notches 31 adapted to releasably receive the positioning dog 32 therein. Preferably no notches are provided in the central portion of the plate so that there will be no lessening of structural rigidity in this area.

Positioning dog member 17, as shown in the illustrations of FIGURES 4 and 5, is seen to comprise elongate dog 32 pivotably carried between paired opposed body members 33 by bolt 34 communicating therebetween and releasably fastened in this position by nut 35 with plural washers 36 thereon. Upward extending, preferably outwardly fiar-ing, cars 37 of body members 33 have elongate slots 38 for communication with commercial elastically deformable fastening ring 39 adjustably sized by fastening screw member 14 upon appropriate manipulation. This member may thusly be adjustably positioned on many shapes of boat steering handles 13 as desired.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention its operation may now be understood.

The device is assembled according to the specification aforesaid and mounting plate 19 is positioned under at least one motor mounting bracket 13 in such fashion that 0 positioning plate 26 extends forwardly into the boat on the forward ide of the stern 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The motor is then releasably set on the boat in normal fashion with my device in this position. Positioning dog member 17 is then attached to the motor steering handle by placing the handle through fastening ring 39 and then tightening fastening screw 40 until a structural communication is obtained. The inner mounting arm 23 is extended or retracted, as the case may require, until positioning plate 26 is properly extended for potential communication with dog 32 of the positioning dog member; in this position setting bolt 27 is tightened to structurally position the two members relative each other.

The appropriate course of the boat is then determined by manual trial and error and when this has been done the dog 32 is lowered downwardly into notch 31 of positioning plate 26 then immediately therebelow. If no notch is therebelow, positioning plate 26 may be angularly positione-d relative the inner mounting arm 23 until a notch is positioned vertically below dog 32 and in this position the setting bolt 27 tightened to maintain the mechanism releasably in this position.

If after a course be set as aforesaid it be desired to change the course, dog 32 is merely pivoted upwardly out of engagement with positioning plate 26 and the motor manually moved as desired to change course. If then it be again desired to mechanically maintain the boat on that particular new course, the foregoing procedure may again be followed.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailed character so that a specific embodiment of my invention might be set forth as required, but it is to be understood that various modifications, changes rearrangement and multiplication of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit, essence or cope of my invention.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desired to protect by Letters Patent, and,

What I claim is:

1. A steering device of the nature aforesaid for a boat mounted outboard motor to releasably maintain the steering arm of such motor in predetermined position relative such boat, comprising, in combination:

a body member adapted to be releasably carried on the stern of said boat with an adjustably extensible mounting arm extending forwardly therefrom;

a substantially horizontal positioning plate adjustably pivotably carried by the forward extension of said mounting arm, said positioning plate having an arcuate forward edge with plural notches therein adapted to receive a positioning dog; and

a positioning dog pivotably carried by a body, adapted to be releasably carried by said steering arm of said motor, to operatively communicate with aforesaid plural notches of said positioning plate but be pivotably movable from such communication.

2. The invention of claim 1 releasably positioned on the stern of a boat by placement between the inner face of said stern and the face of at least one clamp adapted to maintain said motor on said boat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,452 4/1923 Williams 1l518 XR ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STEERING DEVICE OF THE NATURE AFORESAID FOR A BOAT MOUNTED OUTBOARD MOTOR TO RELEASABLY MAINTAIN THE STEERING ARM OF SUCH MOTOR IN PREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE SUCH BOAT, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A BODY MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY CARRIED ON THE STERN OF SAID BOAT WITH AN ADJUSTABLY EXTENSIBLE MOUNTING ARM EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREFROM; A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITIONING PLATE ADJUSTABLY PIVOTABLY CARRIED BY THE FORWARD EXTENSION OF SAID MOUNTING ARM, SAID POSITIONING PLATE HAVING AN ARCUATE FORWARD EDGE WITH PLURAL NOTCHES THEREIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A POSITIONING DOG; AND A POSITIONING DOG PIVOTABLY CARRIED BY A BODY, ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY CARRIED BY SAID STEERING ARM OF SAID MOTOR, TO OPERATIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH AFORESAID PLURAL NOTCHES OF SAID POSITIONING PLATE BUT BE PIVOTABLY MOVABLE FROM SUCH COMMUNICATION. 